by Paul White, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul White, USA TODAY Sports

USA TODAY Sports is counting down the 100 Names You Need to Know this upcoming season.

This is our yearly look at young players primed to make an impact during the upcoming big-league season. They aren't necessarily baseball's best prospects but rather the ones most likely to make a mark in 2013.

To qualify for our list, a player must have had more innings (for pitchers) or at-bats (for hitters) in the minor leagues in 2012 than he has had during all of his major league time. Players are ranked in order of their anticipated impact this season.

Check back each day as the next 20 names are released.

***

21. Danny Hultzen, LHP, Mariners: If Seattle is to climb into contention anytime soon, a collection of young pitchers will be the key. The second overall draft pick in 2011 probably will start the season at ClassAAA, but he should be first in line to move up. Hultzen, 23, doesn't have the highest ceiling in the organization, but he's polished enough to help now and carve out a solid middle-of-the-rotation career.

22. Nick Franklin, SS, Mariners: He's a switch-hitter but has done less from the right side as he has moved up through the minors. Franklin's ultimate position might be second base, but there's a clearer path to the majors at shortstop in Seattle. The 2009 first-round draft pick (27th overall) is an exceptional athlete but has more power than most middle infielders. Franklin, 21, could at least be a platoon player to start his major league career and put himself in position to earn more time.

23. Matt Dominguez, 3B, Astros: The Marlins grew impatient with his slow offensive development, but he hit .298 at Class AAA after the July deal that sent first baseman-outfielder Carlos Lee to Miami and showed signs of enough power to take advantage of Houston's ballpark once he was called up to the majors. He'll start a third base for the Astros, who can count on exceptional defense. Dominguez, 23, still can end up the special player he was thought to be when taken 12th overall in the 2007 draft. Lee remains a free agent.

24. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Rays: The line forms at Class AAA Durham (N.C.), but cutting to the front definitely is encouraged. Tampa Bay keeps repopulating its pitching pipeline, and Odorizzi, 22, shouldn't be overlooked in the deal that brought outfielder Wil Myers (No.2) from the Kansas City Royals organization. Odorizzi's chances would have been better to crack the Royals rotation this year, but he and Chris Archer (No.11) can push Alex Cobb and maybe Jeff Niemann for the bottom two spots in the Rays rotation as early as this spring.

25. Mike Olt, 3B, Rangers: He still is locked in Texas by Adrian Beltre, putting Olt in the middle of any trade speculation surrounding the Rangers. But they've kept him and, for now at least, Olt's best hope for major league playing time is to move to first base as a right-handed option to lefty Mitch Moreland. But Olt, 24, is a strong defender at third, and he'll likely eventually end up there. His best offensive asset is big-time power, and he had a breakout season last year after not hitting more than 15 homers in a minor league season.

26. Rob Brantly, C, Marlins: If Miami management indeed has a plan to build a winner, Brantly, 23, can be among the first players to prove it. He's the likely starter for the Marlins and has the defensive ability to handle the job, even under the eye of the new manager, ex-catcher Mike Redmond. He's an efficient, if not spectacular, hitter and can provide left-handed power on a team with little from that side of the plate beyond Logan Morrison.

27. Kolten Wong, 2B, Cardinals: The Cardinals will let Wong, 22, determine how much of this season he spends in the majors. They'd have few qualms promoting him if starter Daniel Descalso were injured, but they're not necessarily fast-tracking Wong. He has shown enough power to eliminate the usual concerns scouts show about 5-9 players. He has enough speed to hit at the top of the order, makes consistent contact and is a solid defender. He'll never be spectacular but should be a major league starter sooner rather than later.

28. Bruce Rondon, RHP, Tigers: His profile is becoming increasingly familiar among young relievers (check out Addison Reed of the Chicago White Sox), charging through several levels of the minors one year, closing in on the majors the next. Detroit has defied skeptics by not adding a veteran to replace Jose Valverde and this 22-year-old will get the chance to inherit the ninth-inning job on a championship team. He throws in the high-90s with an arm angle that's close to sidearm. But is he ready for this challenge?

29. L.J. Hoes, OF, Orioles: Maybe Baltimore's run to the playoffs last year has conditioned us to look for the underdog and overachiever. Hoes, 22, is a bit more than that, but he's an energy guy who's a very good hitter. He lacks power and still hasn't settled into a defensive position. He's in the outfield now, most likely left, after mixed results in the minors at second base, where he would be of more use to the major league club. Still, he's a sleeper on the ever-churning Orioles roster.

30. Trevor Rosenthal, RHP, Cardinals: He was pretty much untouchable in last year's postseason - two hits, two walks, 15 strikeouts among the 30 batters he faced. That was all in relief, albeit in some high-leverage situations, and Rosenthal's future still is as a starter. He'll contend for the fifth spot in the rotation - with maybe another job open if Jaime Garcia's shoulder isn't ready. But he's pretty much guaranteed at least a key bullpen role, not a bad route for a 22-year-old who never has topped 120 pro innings.

31. Matt Davidson, 3B, Diamondbacks: The last big hurdle confronting most top prospects is opportunity. Powerful Davidson, 21, did what he needed to do at Class AA Mobile (Ala.) last year - improved his plate discipline while continuing to hit the ball hard. But Arizona's acquisition of Martin Prado makes his route a little tougher.

32. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies: Colorado got solid production at third last season from the Chris Nelson-Jordan Pacheco combination, but not the kind of power that fits the corner-infield-in-Denver profile. Arenado, 21, can provide the power level the Rockies need there, though he hasn't played above ClassAA yet. He'll get a chance to make his case this spring, and he certainly can handle the defensive part of the job while the club assesses his readiness.

33. David Holmberg, LHP, Diamondbacks: He has been overshadowed by Tyler Skaggs and now-departed Trevor Bauer, but Holmberg is a sleeper who could be helping Arizona by midseason. He's 21 and grew up in the shadow of the Tampa Bay Rays' spring complex in Port Charlotte, Fla. He has a nasty curve that should work well in the majors as a contrast to his late-moving fastball.

34. Moises Sierra, OF, Blue Jays: He has been the most intriguing offensive prospect in the Toronto system for quite awhile. With two solid upper-level seasons in a row, injury issues are a distant memory. He'll start the year at Class AAA, but Sierra is the first choice to add some pop at a corner outfield spot. He's a strong defender with a big-time arm, but power at the plate is how he will make his mark in the majors.

35. Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox: Boston continues to look at plenty of shortstop options - the latest is the hope Stephen Drew rebounds - but Bogaerts has the chance to be the best long-term answer for the Red Sox since Nomar Garciaparra. He'll return to ClassAA, where he had five homers and 10 doubles in 23 games after an August call-up - all before his 20th birthday. He already has considerable power, but that could become more formidable as he fills out his 6-3, 175-pound frame.

36. Andrelton Simmons, SS, Braves: Defense was the clear tiebreaker when Atlanta had to decide last season between Simmons and Tyler Pastornicky. Simmons already is an elite-level defender at age 23. His offensive contributions were a pleasant surprise this early in his career. He's not likely to ever be a power source, but he has been a disciplined contact hitter in the minor leagues, and his handling of the strike zone didn't deteriorate when he got to the majors.

37. A.J. Pollock, OF, Diamondbacks: Pollock, 25, is ready for the majors, especially since his all-out style plays well with Arizona manager Kirk Gibson. The Justin Upton trade opens the door for at least a bench job this year, especially with his ability to play all three outfield positions - and he's a converted shortstop. He's a true contact hitter with few strikeouts, good speed and little power.

38. Aaron Hicks, OF, Twins: Hicks' stock was rising almost weekly during the offseason as Minnesota traded away outfielders ahead of him. Now, instead of seeing Denard Span and Ben Revere in the lineup, Hicks, 23, has to beat out Darin Mastroianni to start in center field, but the Twins might want Hicks to show a little more at AAA. Hicks always has had outstanding tools but it all fell into place nicely last year at Class AA, with a high walk rate and more power than normal from a possible leadoff hitter.

39. Jean Segura, SS, Brewers: Segura, 23, lost his rookie status when Milwaukee gave him enough playing time after coming from the Los Angeles Angels in the Zack Greinke trade. The starting job is his but Brewers fans might have to be patient. He has the raw skills - including speed and power - to become in impact middle-infield guy but probably would get more minor league seasoning in another organization.

40. Leonys Martin, OF, Rangers: Nobody gains more from Texas' inability to land an elite-level free agent than Martin, who dominated at Class AAA last season. Barring a last-minute acquisition, the Rangers will use Martin, 24, as the left-handed portion of a center field platoon with Craig Gentry. Martin is the better offensive player but is not as strong defensively. His biggest stride last year was improving plate discipline. He has legitimate power but is just beginning to master a line-drive stroke that makes him a better all-around hitter.